Member Login

Frequently Asked Questions

The AGS office routinely receives phone calls, e-mails and letters with questions concerning various goat related topics. Below are a few of the more frequently asked questions. We hope you find this helpful. If you don’t find the answer to your questions here, please contact the office and we will be more than happy to assist you. Remember – YOU ARE AGS!

Membership

How much does it cost to become a member, register a goat or conduct other business?
A schedule of fees can be viewed and printed by clicking on "Forms and Fees" on the homepage or selecting “Fees and Services” under the “Registration” tab also on the homepage.
Direct link: AGS Work Order Form

What do I get for my membership fee?
The membership fee includes many valuable opportunities, such as:

Friendly office staff that own and raise goats and understand the issues our members face

Comprehensive website

An organization that was founded by and for dairy goat breeders and realizes that the members ARE the organization

And much more!

When does my membership expire?

AGS memberships run from January 1st through December 31st of the current year. New memberships sent in after October 1st of the current year will be good through December 31st of the following year. Current members renewing early for the upcoming year are eligible for a $5 discount on their dues. New members and members who have not renewed for the current year are not eligible for this discount.

How do I get my farm’s website listed on the AGS website?
AGS offers a free listing and link to farm websites owned by our members. If you are a member and wish to take advantage of this service, please contact the office with your information and we will be happy to add the information to the AGS website with the next scheduled update.

Where is the online membership listing?
At the request of our membership we removed the online listing of members from the website several years ago. With the launching of the new website with a members only section, we are again offering this service. To access the information you must be a member of AGS. The listing can be found in the member’s only section of the website. The list is published once a year in early March. Members must be current at the time of publication to be listed.

Registrations

Do I need a herd name?Yes, AGS requires that you have a registered herd name & tattoo in order to register kids of your breeding. Tattoo registration is included free with the purchase of a herd name.

Am I allowed to shorten or alter my registered herd name in order to register kids?No, your herd name must be used exactly as registered before the name of the animal. The name of the animal, including herd name, must not exceed thirty letters and spaces.

Do I have to tattoo my goats if I use microchips?No, AGS accepts tattoos and/or microchips as forms of identification; however, you MUST assign and list your tattoo sequence (both right and left ears) on the registration papers. Recording the tattoo sequence allows future owners the ability to tattoo the animal should they choose to do so. Keep in mind that not all members have a chip reader.

Who is the breeder on the application for registration?
The owner of the doe, at the time of service, is the breeder. If you buy a doe bred the resulting kids are prenatal, they must be registered with the breeders herd name but will carry the tattoos of the farm where they were born. If you own the doe and have it bred to a buck owned by someone other than yourself, you are still the breeder as you are the owner of the doe being bred.

When do I need a service memo?
Any time you are not the owner of the buck, at the time of service, a service memo is required. This requirement applies to prenatal breedings as well.

Am I required to pay a transfer fee on kids purchased from another breeder that gave me a registration application for an animal not yet registered?Yes, any time a registration application is turned in with the ‘sold to’ line filled out; both a registration fee and transfer fee will be applied.

How do I transfer an animal that is already registered?
When transferring an animal a bill of sale (transfer slip) must be filled out and signed by the seller. The original certificate, the bill of sale, and the appropriate fees must be sent to the office for the transfer to be recorded. The original certificate should not be written on or used as a transfer slip. (Never write on your original registration papers) AGS encourages everyone to submit transfers in a timely manner so that future transactions such as registering and selling offspring go more smoothly.

When do I need a bill of sale?
You only need a bill of sale if you buy or sell an animal that already has an original registration certificate. You do not need to include a bill of sale with a registration application, but the ‘sold to’ line and date of sale must be filled in and the seller must sign the application. In this situation, the ‘sold to’ line serves as the transfer form.

Can I register a goat off other registries papers?
Yes, AGS accepts for re-registration papers for purebreds from ADGA and CGS (Canadian Goat Society). A copy of the original registration papers from the other organization and an AGS application must be received in the office with the appropriate fees. AGS does not accept for re-registration papers from single breed or privately owned registries; therefore, we do not accept papers of NDGA, NPGA or IDGR origin. * If the goat has been transferred into your name on the other registries certificate then only a registration fee will apply. If the animal is not currently in your name we will need a bill of sale (transfer slip) and you will be charged both registration and transfer fees.

NOTE: The AGS Board has approved re-registration of NPGA Registered Pygmy goats through the end of 2009. After December 31st of this year we will not accept NPGA animals for re-registration.

What is a stamped duplicate?
A stamped duplicate is an application for registration that is stamped with what will become the animals’ permanent identification number. A stamped duplicate can be used to show kids that are under 6 months of age, when time constraints prohibit the permanent registration papers getting to the applicant in time for show. If a stamped duplicate is used at a show, and your animal wins, the registration number from the stamped duplicate must be recorded on the report of awards (show report). You are responsible for making sure the numbers on the stamped duplicate and show report match. Stamped duplicate fees are the regular registration fees, plus a $1 stamped duplicate fee per registration. If the stamped duplicates are submitted via facsimile, regular fax fees also apply. Payment must be received at the time the stamped duplicates are applied for.

Transfers

Am I required to pay a transfer fee on kids purchased from another breeder that gave me a registration application for an animal not yet registered?Yes, any time a registration application is turned in with the ‘sold to’ line filled out; both a registration fee and transfer fee will be applied.

How do I transfer an animal that is already registered?
A: When transferring an animal a bill of sale (transfer slip) must be filled out and signed by the seller. The original certificate, the bill of sale, and the appropriate fees must be sent to the office for the transfer to be recorded. The original certificate should not be written on or used as a transfer slip. (Never write on your original registration papers) AGS encourages everyone to submit transfers in a timely manner so that future transactions such as registering and selling offspring go more smoothly.

When do I need a bill of sale?
A: You only need a bill of sale if you buy or sell an animal that already has an original registration certificate. You do not need to include a bill of sale with a registration application, but the ‘sold to’ line and date of sale must be filled in and the seller must sign the application. In this situation, the ‘sold to’ line serves as the transfer form.

I want to fax my transfer, can I?
No. We require the original certificate mailed to the AGS office with the seller’s signature, sale date, name of the purchaser, and the transfer fee.

Tattooing

Do I have to tattoo my goats if I use microchips?No, AGS accepts tattoos and/or microchips as forms of identification; however, you MUST assign and list your tattoo sequence (both right and left ears) on the registration papers. Recording the tattoo sequence allows future owners the ability to tattoo the animal should they choose to do so. Keep in mind that not all members have a chip reader.

What do I tattoo in the ears?
When tattooing your goats’ ears your registered herd tattoos should go in the right ear. This same registered herd tattoo will be used for all goats born on your property. The animal specific tattoo for each animal should go in the left ear. This tattoo will be different for every animal you tattoo. This tattoo consists of a letter for the year the animal was born followed by a sequential number for that particular animal. In 2009 the year letter is Z so the first kid born in 2009 would be Z1, second kid Z2; eighth kid would be Z8 and so on through the year. While standing behind your animal your left will be the animal’s left and your right will be the animal’s right. If you are facing the animal it would be opposite.

What is the tattoo letter for this year?
The specific letter is assigned for each year an animal is born. The year letter basically follows the alphabet. The letters G, I, O, Q, and U are not used as the tattoos appear too similar to other letters and/or numbers. The suggested letter for each year is as follows: